bootneck Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 I've reached the stage in my build, of a WM Short Belfast, where the wheel assemblies need fitting, but I don't know the underbelly clearance height. I could estimate from the instruction sheet but this is not to scale. Can anyone please assist with details of the definitive measurement? Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloegin57 Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 48 minutes ago, bootneck said: I've reached the stage in my build, of a WM Short Belfast, where the wheel assemblies need fitting, but I don't know the underbelly clearance height. I could estimate from the instruction sheet but this is not to scale. Can anyone please assist with details of the definitive measurement? Thanks Mike Mike, I cannot give it to you in feet/inches/metric as it depends on freight/fuel load carried etc but I do recall that a crew changed a main wheel at Luqa back in the sixties and tried to roll it under the fuselage. It got slightly stuck but a well aimed boot shifted it. So I would say that the height would be 1 x main wheel diameter plus or minus a bit. Attached a shot of subject "Belf" :- HTH Dennis 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bootneck Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 Hi Dennis, The model will represent an unladen aircraft so, unless more defiintive information comes to light, 1 x main wheel diameter plus or minus a bit it is then. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Womby Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Mike, I am not sure how much it helps but Flight quoted 5ft 2.45in as the height of the sill and load floor above the ground and had scale drawings. I emailed the pages to you. David 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrvbowman Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Hi Mike The GA drawing in the RAF servicing notes shows clearance between bottom of fuselage and ground of 2'6" Can email you a copy of the page if you like Best regards Martin 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bootneck Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 Thanks everyone. Martin, I was going to guestimate at 3.1ft (6.5mm at 1:144 scale) but your info of 2.5ft (5.3mm at 1:144 scale) would be more accurate. Yes please to a scan of the page. Thanks. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Pete Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 51 minutes ago, sloegin57 said: 1 x main wheel diameter plus or minus a bit. Don't confuse me with technical jargon! 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilfergylee Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 For what it's worth, here is my shot of the Belfast at Cosford last year: 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 Nice picture, isn't the Cosford Belfast up on small jacks to relieve the oleos so might not help Mike with his guesstimations Is that my foot over to the left in front of the Hastings? I think it might be, there deep in the shadows... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilfergylee Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 2 hours ago, perdu said: Nice picture, isn't the Cosford Belfast up on small jacks to relieve the oleos so might not help Mike with his guesstimations Is that my foot over to the left in front of the Hastings? I think it might be, there deep in the shadows... Fair point about the jacks and does your foot follow me around? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 6 hours ago, sloegin57 said: Mike, I cannot give it to you in feet/inches/metric as it depends on freight/fuel load carried etc but I do recall that a crew changed a main wheel at Luqa back in the sixties and tried to roll it under the fuselage. It got slightly stuck but a well aimed boot shifted it. Dennis Technical information doesn't come better than this! I would agree with Perdu about the Cosford Belfast, the oleos have collars fitted. Not sure about his foot though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perdu Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 To be fair (to me) my foot was frequently nailed into the footprint of the space below the nose of Cosford's Hastings Over there, at the back, just by the BMP I thought I caught a tyre saving jack too as well as oleo protection, but probably wrong on that I do know the Hastings u/c was well lifted under the main wheel leg's feet 😊 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71chally Posted April 17, 2018 Share Posted April 17, 2018 According to the manuals it is 2' 6" clearance from ground to underside, and 5' 2 3/4" to the load floor. In the GA (non technical) drawings the wheels are the same height as that underside clearance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bootneck Posted April 17, 2018 Author Share Posted April 17, 2018 Thanks James, I'll work to that. Just trying to make some decals for the cockpit glazing at the mo' cheers Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Britman Posted April 18, 2018 Share Posted April 18, 2018 Very much look forward to seeing the end result Mike. I did mine about twenty years ago and I think it is well overdue for a deep check! Of course you know that as soon as you finish yours and perhaps mine gets a makeover, Roden (please) or some other will come up with a nice injection jobby. I have discounted the Anigrand as too expensive and unconvincing in shape and details. Good luck with the build. Keith. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bootneck Posted April 18, 2018 Author Share Posted April 18, 2018 1 hour ago, Britman said: ...... you know that as soon as you finish yours and perhaps mine gets a makeover, Roden (please) or some other will come up with a nice injection jobby. I wish! I have learned so much, whilst doing this build, about the aircraft; painting and decalling, that I would like to build another at some stage. Second time around should make less errors and, if was anything other than vacform, shouldn't have the fit problems I encountered by over sanding. Mike 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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